As the wrestling world tries to cope with Rotunda’s passing, it might be the very essence of the Wyatt character that reminds us of what the pastime is supposed to be about. Be it his original persona, “The Eater of Worlds,” the host of the Firefly Fun House or The Fiend, every evolution was a step into a different dimension so to speak, requiring a suspension of disbelief that seems to have gotten harder over time for the average wrestling fan. But for Wyatt, it worked.

“His character was supposed to be an escape from the real world,” noted Dreamer. “We’re supposed to watch television or go to wrestling shows for a night out, to make us happy, to celebrate things that we love.” Having sadly experienced great loss many times over in his career, Dreamer understands what people are feeling. He talked about keeping messages that he still listens to from his mom, Dusty Rhodes, and the recently-departed Terry Funk on an old Android phone as ways he remembers those he’s lost.

“You want to hang onto a piece of [them],” Dreamer offered and wrestling fans are lucky to be able to do so these days with so much content available on demand. “We hang onto those pieces with YouTube and Peacock and memories and stories and that’s how you keep these people alive.” With tonight’s episode of “WWE Smackdown” now shaping up to be a show centered around tributes to Wyatt, fans can take that time to pay respects and appreciation to his legendary career. And for those who had the pleasure of meeting him in person, Dreamer says that shouldn’t ever be forgotten. “If you did get to meet him, you got to be around greatness.”

If you use any quotes from this article, please credit Busted Open Radio with a h/t to Wrestling Inc. for the transcription.